Toothbrush



Jan" 9, 1934;. H. w MclNTYRE 1,943,225

TOOTHBRUSH Filed May 1, 1933 If. W. Mc/Inyrev INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to toothbrushes and has for the primary object, the provision of a device of this character which will more effectively clean teeth both between the latter and their surfaces and especially the surfaces of the teeth at the margins of the gums to remove film and other foreign matter and to impart a massaging action to the gums for keeping the latter in a healthy condition by stimulating the flow of blood therel0 through and at the margins of the gums.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a toothbrush constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the brush applied to teeth.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 showing the bristles acting upon and between teeth.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a handle carrying at one end an integral head 2 tapering slightly towards its free end and rounded at said end. The head 2 has secured thereto rows of tufts of bristles 3 and 4. The rows of tufts of bristles extend parallel with each other arranging the tufts of bristles in pairs as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. An intermediate row of tufts of bristles 5 is secured to the head and located between the rows of tufts of bristles 3 and 4 with a tuft of bristles arranged between each pair of tufts of bristles 3 and 4. The tufts of bristles 5 are of a shorter length than the tufts of bristles 3 and 4. The tufts of bristles 3, 4 and 5 have their free ends cut to form oppositely inclined beveled edges with each tuft of bristles provided with a crest indicated at 6. The

crests of the tufts of bristles 3 and 4 extend transversely of the head, while the crests of the tufts of bristles 5 extend longitudinally of the head and. at right angles to the crests of the tufts of bristles 3 and 4.

In operation, the tufts of bristles are forced against the teeth with the tufts of bristles 3 and 4 extending between the teeth and the tufts of bristles 5 contacting with the surfaces of the teeth so that a movement of the brush head with respect to the teeth will cause a thorough cleaning of the teeth both between the latter and their surfaces. During the cleaning of the teeth the movement of the brush head is such that the tufts of bristles 3 and 4 do not move from between the teeth, while the tufts of bristles 5 move over the surfaces of the teeth and the marginal edges of the gums removing film and. other foreign matter and also imparting a massaging action to the gums to stimulate the flow of blood therethrough. It will, therefore, be seen that the teeth at their necks or the portions that enter the gums will be thoroughly cleaned by the tufts of bristles 5, accomplishing a result not heretofore attainable by toothbrushes now in use.

The movement of the toothbrush may be across the teeth and also upwardly and downwardly with respect to the teeth.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A toothbrush including a handle having a head, pairs of tufts of bristles secured to the head in parallel rows, an intermediate row of tufts of bristles secured to the head between the parallel rows of tufts of bristles and with each tuft of bristles of the intermediate row positioned between pairs of tufts of bristles of the parallel rows, said intermediate row of tufts of bristles being of a shorter length than the tufts of bristles of the parallel rows, said tufts, of bristles having their ends cut to form opposite beveled faces and presenting to each tuft of bristles a crest, the crests of the parallel rows of tufts of bristles being arranged transversely of the head, while the crests of the intermediate row of tufts of bristles being arranged longitudinally of the head.

HAROLD W. McINTYRE. 

